Five for Friday: Top free-agent priorities for the Ravens

Keeping Flacco is a formality -- and an absolutely necessity -- but the question is how? Flacco could score a larger contract than New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who at $100 million over five years is the NFL's highest-paid player. The Ravens and Flacco's agent, Joe Linta, have exchanged figures, but the closer we get to Monday's deadline to use the franchise tag, the more likely the tag will come into play, perhaps as soon as today. Either way, though, the Super Bowl XLVII MVP will be with the Ravens in 2013.

Keeping Flacco is a formality -- and an absolutely necessity -- but the question is how? Flacco could score a larger contract than New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who at $100 million over five years is the NFL's highest-paid player. The Ravens and Flacco's agent, Joe Linta, have exchanged figures, but the closer we get to Monday's deadline to use the franchise tag, the more likely the tag will come into play, perhaps as soon as today. Either way, though, the Super Bowl XLVII MVP will be with the Ravens in 2013. (Gene Sweeney Jr., Baltimore Sun)

This might not be a popular choice for the top priority behind Joe Flacco, but if Ray Lewis was the heart of the Ravens defense, Ed Reed is its soul. At 34, Reed's best days are behind him, but while he can be a liability when ball-carriers head in his direction, he still made an impact in coverage last season. And the Ravens would benefit from keeping his voice in the locker room. The challenge will be finding the right price. If they can keep Reed around with a reasonable one- or two-year deal, the Ravens have to bring him back.

This might not be a popular choice for the top priority behind Joe Flacco, but if Ray Lewis was the heart of the Ravens defense, Ed Reed is its soul. At 34, Reed's best days are behind him, but while he can be a liability when ball-carriers head in his direction, he still made an impact in coverage last season. And the Ravens would benefit from keeping his voice in the locker room. The challenge will be finding the right price. If they can keep Reed around with a reasonable one- or two-year deal, the Ravens have to bring him back. (Gene Sweeney Jr., Baltimore Sun)

NFL free agency is set to begin on March 12. As is usually the case, the Ravens are expected to prioritize re-signing their own players before tip-toeing into the free-agent waters. Quarterback Joe Flacco is the first domino obviously, and the rest of their free agents fall into line after that. So who should stay and who should go? In this week's Five for Friday -- yes, it's back -- blogger and reporter Matt Vensel ranks, in order, the five Ravens free agents the team should prioritize based on team need, cost and productivity.